Handled bag

ABSTRACT

A handled bag is provided having opposed walls. A first wall is provided with a reinforcing flange folded downwardly to provide a reinforced upper edge. A handle is secured to the inner surface of the opposite wall to project upwardly therefrom. A closure flange is hinged to the upper edge of the opposite wall and is slit to permit it to be folded past the handle and outwardly of the first wall to provide a bag closure. A tape covered adhesive area on the first wall permits the sealing of the closure flange to the first walls when the tape is removed.

United States Patent [191 [4 May 21, 1974 Harrison HANDLED BAG [75] Inventor: Robert E. Harrison, Newburgh,

[73] Assignee: Hoerner Waldorf Corporation,

Ramsey, Mich.

[22] Filed: May 22, 1972 O [2]] Appl. No.: 255,430

[52] US. Cl. 229/54 C, 229/55, 229/62 [51] Int. Cl... B65d 31/10, B65d 33/12, B65d 33/02 [58] Field of Search 229/54 R, 54 C, 62

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,429,498 2/1969 Dorfman 229/54 R 3,070,280 l2/l962 Richmond. 229/62 X 3,565,327 2/1971 Rodley 229/54 C 3,493,166 2/1970 Smith et al 229/54 C F. Best [57] ABSTRACT A handled bag is provided having opposed walls. A first wall is provided with a reinforcing flange folded downwardly to provide a reinforced upper edge. A handle is secured to the inner surface of the opposite wall to project upwardly therefrom. A closure flange is hinged to the upper edge of the opposite wall and is slit to permit it to be folded past the handle and catwardly of the first wall to provide a bag closure. A tape covered adhesive area on the first wall permits the sealing of the closure flange to the first walls when the tape is removed.

5 Claims, 6 Ifi'awing Figures PATENTEDIIAY 21 I974 I I l i fl i: l LL.

{\ ZQ 30y? 7x31.

24 I lfl v l l HANDLED BAG This invention relates to an improvement in handled bag, and deals particularly with a bag having a carrier handle and which may be sealed in closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Shopping bags have been produced for many years. In general, these bags include opposed side walls connected along their side edges and along their bottom edges, and have handles of one type or another extending upwardly from the upper edges of the sides in op posed relation. Both of these handles are simultaneously grasped in the carrying of the bag. The purpose of having handles on both of the opposed walls is to prevent the open upper end of the bag from opening wide as the bag is carried, and to prevent loss of the contents. The provision of handles on each wall also prevents undue strain on a single wall.

One of the problems with bags of the shopping bag type lies in the fact that the top of the bag is normally unsealed. As a result, the contents of the bags may be readily pilfered. Furthermore, if the bag is placed upon a supporting surface and falls upon its side, the contents may readily spill out. Thus where the bags are used to carry articles which do not completely fill the bag, a top closure or means of sealing the upper end of the bag is of considerable advantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A feature of the present invention resides in the provision having a top closure designed to prevent pilferage or a loss of the bag contents. The bag is generally of conventional shape having a pair of opposed first and second walls connected along opposite edges and at the bottom. A loop handle having generally parallel ends is anchored to the inner surface of one of the walls to project above the upper surfaces of the walls. This bag side is provided with a closure flanged hinged to the top edge. This closure flange is foldable outwardly of the opposite wall. The closure flange is slit in pposed relation to the parallel sides of the handle so that the closure flap may be folded'past the handle. Means is provided for sealing this closure flap to the opposed bag wall to form the bag closure.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a normally covered area of pressure sensitive adhesive designed to secure the closure flap in closed position. This area normally comprises a strip of adhesive extending across the wall of the bag over which the closure flap is folded. A strip of tape formed of a material which is relatively resistant to the adhesive extends over the adhesive area, and may be removed before the closure flap is folded into contact therewith.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bag in sealed condition.

FIG. 2 is a elevational view of the upper portion of the bag before it is sealed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the bag showing the adhesive covering strip in partially removed condition.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view in enlarged form through the upper portion of the bag after it is sealed, the position of the section being indicated by the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the bag is formed.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the upper portion of the blank after the first folding operation.

The bag is indicated in general by the letter A. As indicated in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the bag includes a front wall 10 foldably connected along an edge by a fold line 11 to a gusset panel 12. The gusset panel 12 is connected by a fold line 13 to a second gusset panel 14. The gusset panel 14 is connected along a fold line 15 to a rear wall panel 16. The rear wall panel 16 is foldably connected by a fold line 17 to a gusset panel 19 which in turn is connected by a fold line 20 to a second gusset panel 21. The gusset panel 21 is connected by a fold line 22 to a glue flap 23 which, in the formation of the bag, is adhered to the surface of the front wall 10. The fold lines which have been described are parallel, and the gusset panels are of equal width, as are also the front and rear panels.

The bag is formed with a conventional bottom. A fold line 24 extends at right angles to the previously described fold lines. If desired, the portion of the fold line 24 between the fold lines 13 and 20 may be eliminated as it serves no useful purpose in the final construction.

The actual bottom of the bag is defined by a fold line 25 which is spaced from the fold line 24 a distance substantially equal to the width of the gusset flaps. The area of the blank between the fold line 25 and the lower edge 26 of the blank is greater in width than the width of the gusset panels, but less than twice the width of the gusset panels, as these areas of the bag overlap and are adhered together in the conventional manner.

Diagonal fold lines 27 and 29 extend from the junction of the fold line 24 and 13 similar diagonal fold lines 30 and 31 extend downwardly diagonally from the juncture between the fold line 24 and the fold line 20. As this structure is conventional, it is not described in detail. An elongated strip of pressure sensitive adhesive, indicated by the broken line 32 in FIG. 5 and partially shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings is applied to the outer surface of the front wall 10. This area 32 is covered by a tape 33. The tape 33 may be of waxed paper or other material which may be readily pealed from the adhesive area.

As indicated in FIG. 6 of the drawings, a handle 34 is attached to the inner surface of the rear panel 16 and is normally anchored in place by a flexible reinforcing strip 35 adhered to the panel 16 and overlying the parallel ends 36 of the handle 34. FIG. 6 is reversed relative to FIG. 5 in order to show the inner surface of the bag. The handle 34 may be of any desired material such as cord, twisted paper cord, folded paper or the like. The looped end 37 of the handle projects well above the upper surface of the bag as indicated in FIG. I of the drawings. A fold line 39 parallel to the fold lines 24 and 25 extend across the blank in spaced relation to the upper edge 40 of the blank. Slits 41 and 41' extend from the upper edge 40 of the blank to the fold line 39 in alignment with the fold lines 13 and 20 connecting the gusset panels on each side of the bag. Slits 42 also extend from the upper edge 40 of the bag to the fold line 39, the slits 42 being aligned with the parallel sides 36 of the handle 34. Holes 43 may be punched through the blank at the juncture between the slits 42 and the fold line 39 to accommodate the sides of the handle when the bag is closed.

In the formation of the bag, the areas above the fold line 39 and between the end edge 44 of the blank and the slit 41 forms a reinforcing flange 46 which is folded down inwardly of the upper edge of the front wall and the gusset panel 12 connected thereto. in a similar manner, the area of the blank above the fold line 39 and extending from the end edge 45 of the blank and the slit 41 also forms a reinforcing flange 47 which is folded down to lie inwardly of the gusset panel 21 and glue flap 23. The bag is sealed in the conventional manner by forming the bag bottom and attaching the glue flap 23 to the inner surface of the front panel 10. When completed, the bag in its flat form appears as indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawings and as shown in partially opened position in FIG. 3.

In use, after the bag has been opened and the merchandise is placed therein, it is closed by pressing the upper portion of the. bag flat. As indicated, the area of the bag above the fold line 39 and between the slits 41 and 41', including the area hinged to the top of the rear wall and to the gusset panels 14 and 19, forms a closure flap 49 which projects above the folded upper edge of the front wall. The tape strip 33 is removed, and the flap 49 is folded down outwardly of the front wall 10. The closure flap 49 adheres to the adhesive area 32 and the bag is sealed closed as indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The closure flap 49 is actually in three sections due to the slits 42 which permit the closure flap to be folded down past the handle 34. The bag is thus provided with a sealed top may be readily carried by the single handle.

In accordance with the Patent Statutes, l have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in HANDLED BAG; and while 1 have endavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made with the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1 claim:

1. A handled bag including:

a bag body including opposed first and second walls,

a loop handle having generally parallel ends secured to the inner surface of the second wall to project above said walls,

a closure flange foldably connected to the upper edge ofthe second wall along a fold line which is in generally opposed relation with the upper edge of said first wall,

said closure flange being slit from the upper end of the bag to said fold line in opposed relation and parallel to each of said handle ends means for securing said closure flange to said first wall.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said securing means comprises an area of adhesive between said first wall and said closure flange.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said area of adhesive is on said first wall and is covered prior to the closure of the bag.

4. The structure of claim 2 and in which said area of adhesive is on said first wall and comprises pressure sensitive adhesive, and a detachable tape normally covering said adhesive prior to use.

5. The structure ofclaim 1 and in which said first wall is provided with a reinforcing flange foldably connected to the upper edge and lying inwardly of said first wall. 

1. A handled bag including: a bag body including opposed first and second walls, a loop handle having generally parallel ends secured to the inner surface of the second wall to project above said walls, a closure flange foldably connected to the upper edge of the second wall along a fold line which is in generally opposed relation with the upper edge of said first wall, said closure flange being slit from the upper end of the bag to said fold line in opposed relation and parallel to each of said handle ends means for securing said closure flange to said first wall.
 2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said securing means comprises an area of adhesive between said first wall and said closure flange.
 3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said area of adhesive is on said first wall and is covered prior to the closure of the bag.
 4. The structure of claim 2 and in which said area of adhesive is on said first wall and comprises pressure sensitive adhesive, and a detachable tape normally covering said adhesive prior to use.
 5. The structure of claim 1 and in which said first wall is provided with a reinforcing flange foldably connected to the upper edge and lying inwardly of said first wall. 